Blaauw hunting double in Glacier SA Amateur

DURBAN (6 March 2008) – Boland’s Jacques Blaauw maintained his challenge for the double when he won through to the semi-finals of the Glacier SA Amateur Championship at Royal Durban Golf Club on Thursday morning.

Blaauw, the winner of the SA Stroke Play last month, beat Gauteng North’s Derik Ferreira 3 and 2 in Thursday morning’s quarter-finals.

But he had to come back from being 1down as early as the first hole. He got back to all square on the third, then won holes six and seven and never looked back.

“I putted well and stayed out of trouble. As long as I can keep putting well then I’ve got a chance,” said Blaauw, who is doing his best not to think about achieving the double at this stage.

“It’s in sight, but I need to just keep playing and making putts.”

Blaauw will face Michael Palmer (pictured on the right) in the semi-finals after Palmer beat Hugo Delport 2 and 1.

“Michael’s a good player. I played with him in the Free State & Northern Cape Amateur (last month). I won it and he finished second, so hopefully this will be a good match,” said Blaauw.

Welshman Nigel Edwards claimed a comfortable 6 and 4 victory over Adrian Ford to advance to the semi-finals.

Edwards put the pressure on Ford early in the match and was 2 up after four holes. But he three-putted the sixth to halve that hole, and lost the next in the only time his game showed some sign of trouble. However, the 2006 SA Amateur champion won holes eight, nine and ten to take control again at 4 up on his way to victory.

“I was pretty steady out there,” said Edwards. “I’m putting the ball in play quite nicely and my irons are good. I’m still missing one or two fairways, but you’re going to do that on this course.”

Edwards will face Western Province’s Cameron Johnston in the semi-finals. Johnston beat PG van Zyl 3 and 2 with a blitz of birdies to make the semi-finals for the first time in his career.

“I’m feeling great, but I’ve got a very tough match coming up against Nigel,” said Johnston. “But that’s why I’m here. I want to play against the best. And I made seven birdies in my match this morning, so that gives me a lot of confidence.”